Dr. Temple Grandin, an animal science expert who is autistic and the subject of an HBO movie, will speak at 9 a.m. Monday, April 12, and sign her books at California State University, Fresno.

Her lecture in the Satellite Student Union is part of the university’s observance of Autism Awareness Month in April. It is sponsored by the Fresno State Poultry Society and Young Cattlemen’s Association in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

Admission is free for Fresno State students and faculty and $10 for general public.

Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and has spoken around the world about autism and about cattle handling innovations. HBO produced, “Temple Grandin,” a full-length film biography that premiered in February.

It chronicles her struggles with autism and her success in becoming an animal behaviorist. She has written several books on livestock handling and autism. She designs equipment that directs livestock through chutes for half of the cattle industry in the United States.

Michelle Ganci, professor of animal science at Fresno State, said Grandin uses her experience with autism to implement the best methods of humane livestock handling. Ganci uses Grandin’s experience as an example for the Animals and Society class offered in the Animal Science department.

Beef processors that have incorporated Grandin’s guidance say the changes have helped improve the quality of the meat they produce and reduced damage and death to cattle headed to slaughter.

At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 11, Grandin will talk to the Easter Seals organization at the Ramada-University Inn on East Shaw Avenue and Freeway 41. Seating is limited and must be reserved by contacting Dr. Maureen Noel Dunne at 559.241.7233 ext. 201 or mdunne@es-cc.org.

At 6:45 a.m. Monday, April 12, Grandin will have breakfast officers of the Poultry Society and Young Cattlemen’s Association and then autograph books at 8:15 and after her presentation in front of the Satellite Student Union.

She will tour the campus farm at 12:30 p.m. after lunch with the animal science and agriculture education faculty.

Her books are available at the Kennel Bookstore on campus and will be available for sale at the signings.

For more information, contact Ganci at 559.307.2563 or michelleganci@comcast.net.

(University Communications news intern Sadie Thomas contributed to this copy).

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